The University of Oklahoma School of Music presents the third annual Nowruz Iranian Music Festival, part of the Masala World Music Series.  A free music workshop will be held at 3:30 p.m. on March 9 in the Pitman Recital Hall, Catlett Music Center in Norman.  The concert titled “Half Red, Half Yellow” is scheduled at 6 p.m. (Note: new concert time for earlier publicity) Sunday, March 10, in the Sharp Concert Hall. The festival is sponsored by the Masala World Music Concert Series, The Farzaneh Family Fund and the OU Iranian Studies.

Bahram Osqueezadeh is the composer and ensemble director for the Nowruz Iranian Music Concert, Alireza Shahmohammadi is vocalist and the musicians include Navid Kandelousi playing the Kamancheh (spiked fiddle), Ali Asghar Nouri playing the Tar and Setar (lute style string instruments), Sina Dehghani Mohammadi playing the Tobak (goblet drum) and Daf (frame drum), and Bahram Osqueezadeh playing the Santur (hammer dulcimer).

“This is a wonderful opportunity to hear traditional and innovative Persian classical music from a large and diverse ensemble,” states Dr. Zoe Sherinian.  “Four types of string instruments are represented along with a vocalist and percussionist.  The workshop on Saturday is free and the public is welcome to learn more about this music and majestic culture.”

Tickets are $9 adult, $5 student and may be purchased by phone or in person at the OU Fine Arts Box Office (405) 325-4101, 500 W. Boyd St, in the Catlett Music Center. 

Please visit http://music.ou.edu/ for a full calendar of events and performances at the School of Music. For additional information contact Dr. Zoe C. Sherinian, Associate Professor and Chair of Ethnomusicology at 623-0236. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. For accommodations on the basis of disability, please call the Fine Arts Box Office at (405) 325-4101.